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Ghazali's last

Imam Ghazali, one of the most celebrated mystic, saint, scholar and philosopher of Islamic world, woke up one early morning in December, in the year 1111 and as usual offered his prayers and then enquired what day it was. His younger brother, Ahmad Ghazali informed him about that particular day and date. He then asked to bring his white (burial) shroud, kissed it, placing himself properly and saying "Lord, I obey willingly", breathed his last.

And underneath his head rest was found the following verses; composed by him, probably, during the night.

Ghazali's Last

Say to my friends, when they look upon me, deadWeeping for me and mourning me in sorrowDo not believe that this corpse you see is myselfIn the name of God, I tell you, it is not I,

I am a spirit, and this is naught but fleshIt was my abode and my garment for a time.

I am a treasure, by a talisman kept hid,Fashioned of dust, which served me as a shrine,I am a pearl, which has left it's shell deserted,I am a bird, and this body was my cageWhence I have now flown forth and it is left as a tokenPraise to God, who hath now set me freeAnd prepared for me my place in the highest of the heaven,Until today I was dead, though alive in your midst.Now I live in truth, with the grave - clothes discarded.

Today I hold converse with the saints above,With no veil between, I see God face to face.I look upon "Loh-i-Mahfuz" and there in I readWhatever was and is and all that is to be.

Let my house fall in ruins, lay my cage in the ground,Cast away the talisman, it is a token, no moreLay aside my cloak, it was but my outer garment.Place them all in the grave, let them be forgotten,I have passed on my way and you are left behindYour place of abode was no dwelling place for me.

Think not that death is death, nay, it is life,A life that surpasses all we could dream of here,While in this world, here we are granted sleep,Death is but sleep, sleep that shall be prolongedBe not frightened when death draweth night,It is but the departure for this blessed homeThink of the mercy and love of your Lord,Give thanks for His Grace and come without fear.

What I am now, even so shall you beFor I know that you are even as I amThe souls of all men come forth from GodThe bodies of all are compounded alikeGood and evil, alike it was oursI give you now a message of good cheerMay God's peace and joy for evermore be yours.

- Abu Hamed al-Ghazzali (1058-1111), famously known as Algazel to the western medieval world. may God bless his station.